The Observation Deck

Suzanne,

We're all worried about Jeff right now. He's been slaving over this. Look at his posts.

"...you know me well enough to know that I never give up."

"I'm doing this on my lunch hour..."

Our chef is going to shrivel up. He's not even concerned about the beer.

Steve

Steve,

I believe an intervention is in order, I'm just no sure who needs it - Jeff or Bill?

Suzanne

My next entry for the contest is:

Enroll the 25 children is either a Cleveland Charter school (one that hasn't been forced to close its doors) or any of the area parochial schools:

Cost 100,000.00

Use the balance (268,850) to either:
1) provide art work for the library addition/renovation or
2) Buy everyone in the city a super sized happy meal.

Jeff

Jeff,

Drink a beer.

Eat a sandwich.

Take a nap.

Seek help.

Steve

Steve

You don't understand, and perhaps never will. There are a number of issues at play with this contest.
First, its the idea of competition.....the desire to win, and to show yourself at your best!
Second, it's the lure of facing a seemingly insoluble problem, and finding the magic formula. Like learning how to tie the Gordian Knot!
Third, it's the sincere desire to see that nobody screws up the school system, at least until 2009, when Tess graduates.
Fourth, it's the lure of the prize.

When these all coalesce, you have some pretty strong primal forces of nature that simply take over. But, I assure both you and Suzanne that I'm just fine. I've always had this nervous tick and the hives go away with benedryl.

Geoff

Jeff,

I guess I understand now. I have been told from a reliable source that only an "IU" graduate or sports team would participate in a contest they can't win.


Suzanne

Certainly off the thread, but yes, I am a graduate of Indiana University. If I remember correctly (it was a while ago), during my tenure at Bloomington I believe there was an undefeated Basketball team that won the NCAA....I think it may of been in 1976...I think that was after a perfect regular season in 1975. Yes, my years at IU showed that some do keep trying, even though there isn't any hope. We played Kentucky on a number of occasions.

Jeff

Jeff,

You're such a gentleman. I'll smack Dave when I see him.

Suzanne

Jeff


Did you get the gift certificate yet?


.

I would take that money and offer it as incentives for the families of the 25 students to move from that God-awful Cleveland Heights and buy homes in Lakewood.

Steve Davis will explain my attitude toward Cleveland Heights. I convinced him, at long last.

Jeff Endress wrote:My next entry for the contest is:

Enroll the 25 children is either a Cleveland Charter school (one that hasn't been forced to close its doors) or any of the area parochial schools:

Cost 100,000.00

Use the balance (268,850) to either:
1) provide art work for the library addition/renovation or
2) Buy everyone in the city a super sized happy meal.

Jeff

I like this idea the best.

If you are going to spend the same amount spent by private schools, $4,500 per student, that leaves a balance of about $10,000 per student. In a community the size of Cleveland Heights that is a savings of about 50 millions dollars per year.

Should that money be returned to the tax payers?

What would 500 million dollars mean to a city over a 10 year period for industrial, commercial and residential development?

If those savings were realized by all of Cuyhoga County could those billions of dollars revitalize our economy? Would our children be able to find economic opportunity here in Northeastern Ohio?

We will never know. Because, as most Observer agree, the only way to get different results is to spend more money doing the same things we are doing now.

Well at least now Jeff can get his gift certificate, and quit griping about it.


.

Bill Call wrote:If those savings were realized by all of Cuyhoga County could those billions of dollars revitalize our economy? Would our children be able to find economic opportunity here in Northeastern Ohio?

Take billions of dollars out of the local schools to revitalize our local economy? Revitalize it in the same way that Third World countries have uneducated, slave wages workers? At least they have jobs. I always hoped my kids could work in sweat shops.

You may have a point here, Bill. Your solution could accelerate a trend already in place. I already look forward to them kicking bags of rice off the truck as it rolls down my street. Hope there's some left for me.

I'm putting in an order for my Kiwanis cow today.

stephen davis wrote:

Bill Call wrote:If those savings were realized by all of Cuyhoga County could those billions of dollars revitalize our economy? Would our children be able to find economic opportunity here in Northeastern Ohio?

Take billions of dollars out of the local schools to revitalize our local economy? Revitalize it in the same way that Third World countries have uneducated, slave wages workers? At least they have jobs. I always hoped my kids could work in sweat shops.

You may have a point here, Bill. Your solution could accelerate a trend already in place. I already look forward to them kicking bags of rice off the truck as it rolls down my street. Hope there's some left for me.

I'm putting in an order for my Kiwanis cow today.

Steve:

I think you are confusing what you pay (input) with the results (output).
Public and private school districts throughout the country get good results spending $8,000 per student. Some get worse results spending more.
Apparently you think spending $200 for a $50 book is a wise investment, because, after all, it costs more so it must be better.

There are a limited number of tax dollars. You can choose to spend more for less but that means there is less money available for other needs.

Why is it that Parma spends less money but gets better results than Cleveland Heights? They are both public school systems.

I wouldn't worry to much about school reform. The entrenched bureaucracy will do all that is necessary to block reform. Soon you will be paying $20,000 per elementry school student but see no improvement in performance. At that point we will be told that the solution is to spend more money.

Why is it that Parma spends less money but gets better results than Cleveland Heights? They are both public school systems.

Is cost per pupil and the fact that they are public the only criteria that you are working with? If yes, why? If no, why only point out these two facts?